“Social-Emotional Learning is a huge hot topic in education right now. It’s being addressed in school with lesson after lesson, that students don’t often connect to. The idea of connecting art (a high interest activity) to an SEL lesson is GENIUS. The students all connected right away, paid attention, and explored their emotions.” -Classroom Teacher

Dear Friends and Family of Barbara James,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’m writing today with deep appreciation for your continued support of The Barbara James Fund for ArtReach San Diego. Since its creation in 2022, this fund has helped ArtReach provide free visual arts education to over 800 students annually, ensuring that children who might otherwise miss out on art class can experience the joy and growth that comes from creative expression. Your generosity has truly honored Barbara’s passion for teaching art to children, a mission so close to her heart.

This month marks an exciting milestone for ArtReach: the opening of a new community art space, expanding their programs to reach youth and families outside of school hours. With this vibrant hub, ArtReach can now offer summer camps, artist workshops, after-school art clubs, and even professional development for educators. This expanded space will allow ArtReach to extend its reach far beyond the classroom, bringing meaningful art experiences to those who need them most.

However, this expansion comes at a critical time. With schools and city programs facing severe budget cuts, access to arts education is becoming increasingly scarce, leaving many children without the chance to participate in these vital programs. At the same time, rising costs of materials, studio space, and operational needs are making it harder to meet the growing demand for ArtReach’s services. Your support of The Barbara James Fund is more essential than ever in bridging this gap.

Because of your past generosity, 800 young artists across San Diego County have been able to access arts education, where they learn essential skills like creativity, empathy, and resilience. But there is still so much more we can do. ArtReach’s programs help students develop not only artistically but also socially and emotionally, fostering open-minded and compassionate individuals ready to make a positive impact in their communities.

We urgently need your help to ensure that ArtReach can continue to provide these transformative programs. Every $100 you donate offers a full year of art-making for one student. Our goal is to raise $80,000 this year, to bring arts education to 800 more children. You can contribute today by mailing a check to ArtReach, P.O. Box 3999, San Diego, CA 92163, or by donating through the below form.

Thank you for helping keep Barbara’s love for art and children alive through this important work. Together, we can ensure that art remains accessible to all young people, inspiring creativity and connection in our community.

In gratitude,

Steve

Thank you for contributing to The Barbara James Fund for ArtReach San Diego. Want to get more involved? Contact Sarah Holbach, Executive Director to arrange a tour for you, your family, or your colleagues. Sarah can be reached at 619.940.7278 or sarah@artreachsandiego.org.

For more about Barbara James and her incredible paintings: barbarajamespaintings.com

Support our mission by contributing to the Barbara James Fund today!